Blue Eyes scoffs and scans my body one final time, slowing at my legs before nodding behind him. “Get in the car. I have something interesting to show you.”
“That photo you sent…I’m not going anywhere until you confirm they’re still alive.”
“Get in the fucking car.”
“No.”
Blue Eyes launches forward and grips my forearm. “Now, I am going to say this once and only once. You don’t step inside the car and your husband dies. I have him, Mrs. Giannotti.”
“What? Giulio?”
“Yes. I tracked him down and let’s just say…you’re not the only one who wants your children back. So, this is what you’re going to do. You’re going to get in the car, I’m going to show you your beloved husband, and then we’ll go from there.”
He doesn’t give me any choice, and soon I’m strapped inside the car before he takes off at high speed. My heart is racing. Does he really have Giulio? Are Oscar and Slonne okay? Jesus, I should have told Helena. I should have called 911 when I had the chance.
Shit. Shit. Shit
Blue Eyes comes to a stop in a dead-end alleyway.
Nightfall has taken over and darkness blankets us as he drags me out of the car and shoves me towards the last building before a tall brick wall. We take a left and resistance overcomes me as a steel circular staircase leads to a metal door.
Blue Eyes unlocks the door with a key and instantly I’m hit with a distinct metallic smell. My gaze remains on the door-handle, even after he threatens me to step inside. By the third time he grips my chin and snarls coldly, “Step the fuck in or there will be consequences.”
I grind my jaw, hiding the fear behind my disgust. “I hope you rot in hell.”
I venture into the dark walled room. There are no windows or rooms beyond these four walls. Bile rises to my throat as my flats slam against the concrete floor as I hurry to the other side of the room.
Giulio is bound to a chair with rope restraining his chest, ankles, and his hands are tied behind his back. He raises his head towards me and I see the bloodied cuts on his face. A mix of metallic from the blood and his masculine cologne welcomes me. He’s been slashed twice by his cheekbone and the blood pools. My entire body heaves as I look around for something, anything, but there’s nothing and so I scrunch up my long sleeve shirt and dab away at the crimson.
When I cup his jaw, I’m careful to miss his wounds. “You’re okay, I’m going to get you out of here, alright? Everything will be okay.”
Giulio seems disorientated at first, before that familiar warmth blends in his eyes and he smiles softly through the torment.
“Don’t speak too fast.” The door slams shut and coldness seeps straight through my bones. It’s a confined space and the way Blue Eyes grips my neck from behind to make me stand and turn around makes it tinier. “I pulled the same stunt on him that I pulled on you. What? Thought your kids were here? You think a mere photo is enough to make a deal?”
“I’ll do anything, just please don’t hurt him or them. What do I have to do?”
“A very simple thing.” Blue Eyes responds to my urgency with a sinful chuckle. “I’ll lead you to the twins but you need to do something for me first.”
“What is it?”
“I’m a very sentimental man and so when individuals interfere with my process, I feel it right here.” His gaze lowers and finger brushes against my breasts, landing at my heart. “Your husband killed one of my men. Even if I didn’t see it, I know he did. So there is only one way to go about it. Once it’s done, then Oscar and Slonne are yours.”
“No! Please, don’t kill him!”
“Don’t worry. I’m not going to kill Giulio Giannotti…you are.”
I have no air. It’s cut. Nothing travels to my lungs. My head shakes over and over. Tears spill over as I step away from him. Giulio doesn’t say a word. When I turn to him and find he’s staring down at the concrete floor, it’s as if fate has already claimed him.
“No. No, I’m not doing that.”
“You will.” Blue Eyes pulls a gun from the back of his waistband. “This is how it’s gonna be. These are soundproof walls. Kill Giulio and your children will be returned to you. If you don’t pull the trigger, I will kill you first, then him, and then…I will destroy your children one by one.”
“You can’t do this!”
“Oh yes I can, sweetheart. Don’t waste all your impeccable beauty in a morgue.”
The weight of the gun is heavier than I expected when it’s placed in my hands. Blue Eyes grips my shoulders, turns me to face Giulio, and directs me on how to hold the weapon properly. My hands are shaking. Everything turns black and white. I look at Giulio and all I see is my life.
I don’t want to do this.
I cannot do this.
Tears blur my vision when Blue Eyes retreats, I wipe away the wetness and take in Giulio. The man cocks another gun and aims it at me. “I’m going to count to twenty. By the end of that, you take off the safety and you pull the trigger. Fail to do so, and my first bullet goes straight into you. I’ll let him watch you take your last breath and be helpless to save you. Understand?”
“How do I know you will actually give back my children?”
“Well, that’s a little game called trust.” He smiles wickedly. “Twenty.”
My heart explodes.
NO. NO. NO.
How can I get out of this? How can I get out of it?
Giulio swallows, his gaze pooled with agony. “It’s okay, Lencia. It’s okay.”
“No. I can’t. I won’t do it.”
“It’s okay, Lencia. You will get the kids back. It’s three lives against one. If this is the way it needs to go,
